Assad to Putin: Syria ready to help implement cessation of hostilities

BEIRUT, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
told Russia's Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Wednesday his
government was ready to help implement a cessation of
hostilities in Syria.

The two presidents stressed the need to continue fighting
Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front as well as
"other terrorist groups", the Syrian president's official
Twitter account said.

The United States and Russia on Monday announced plans for a
"cessation of hostilities" in Syria that would take effect on
Saturday but exclude groups such as Islamic State and Nusra
Front.
(Reporting by John Davison and Ali Abdelatti in Cairo; Editing
by Alison Williams)